RobertBody (1922 - 2014)

Robert L. Body, 91, died Tuesday, January 21, 2014, peacefully at his home.

He was born in Fairfield, CT, on June 29, 1922. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Alabama as an Industrial Engineering student. His education was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army during World War II. While in the Army, he was sent to Europe and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

After being honorably discharged, Bob finished his engineering degree and moved to New Orleans with his wife, Blanche. In New Orleans, he worked for an insurance company as a safety engineer. After several years, he returned to school at Tulane University to study law, obtaining a Doctorate of Law degree, and became a member of the Louisiana State Bar in 1952. After graduation, he was hired to work with the German Rocket Scientists at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL.

When NASA was chartered, Bob worked as a safety engineer on the Redstone and Atlas programs. In 1962, he transferred to Cape Canaveral to work on the Apollo program, where he became the Director of Quality Assurance and Reliability. Upon the end of the Apollo missions, he retired from NASA in 1975.

Bob was always athletic, enjoying swimming, scuba diving, tennis, and waterskiing. He was also very mechanical, maintaining his cars to perfection. He also enjoyed his yard, maintaining countless palms and tropical plants.

Bob was a devoted and loving husband and father. He is survived by his current wife Anna; and three children, Shirley, Ronald and Paul. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Blanche; his parents, and two brothers.

Bob was an animal lover. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to a local animal rescue shelter.

A service is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Cocoa Beach Community Church, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.